They attacked from three different directions with small-arms fire and launched two rocket propelled grenades at the COP.

By Jan. 8, the White Platoon, Bulldog Troop, soldiers were already administering medical care and other outreach initiatives to local Afghans, all the while keeping their heads on a swivel and staying vigilant to enemy attacks.

The White Platoon soldiers who built and fight from COP Delorean and Observation Post Cougar, (an overwatch for Delorean) hail from 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo.

The soldiers frequently perform combat foot patrols and are engaged in kinetic activities. They know that security must be established before development can follow.

However, when they are not engaged in kinetics, they perform counter-insurgency operations, development initiatives, and Jan. 8 their medic bolstered their standing among the local elders by stitching up one of their child's heads.

When 10-year-old Abdul Hagh gashed his head open while playing with his friends, his father knew just what to do, and brought him to see White Platoon.

Meanwhile, another soldier gathered candy to cheer up the wounded child after Castro finished stitching him up.

"We frequently give medical aid to the local population," said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nicholas Castello, White Platoon leader. "We do our patrols dismounted (not in vehicles) so the local population can see that face-to-face, we are human beings too."

His methods have proven successful in southern BMG because village elders are quick to come inform the platoon when someone new arrives or something is out of place.